Page 23 of The Deeper Game
The squirrel perched on a tree branch in a kind of waiting mode. The Pacific Ocean sparkled in tiny bright blue patches through the branches.
“Not like we ever start out meaning to do public stuff,” he said.
“We could stop groping each other in public places,” I suggested.
Thor looked at me like I was bonkers.
I smiled.
“Whoever left the package,” he said, “they’ll be made an example of.”
“What doesmade an example ofmean?” I asked.
“Whatever Zeus and Odin decide it means,” Thor said. “They’ll find this guy.”
“Maybe it’s a sign,” I said. “Your hideout’s been here for a while. People are getting to know us.”
“Are you on the Jerba thing again?” he asked.
“There’s a bad apple in the barrel,” I said.
“And we’ll find it and take it out.” Thor patted his lap. “Put your feet up here.”
“I don’t feel like fucking,” I said.
Thor gave me a mock angry look.
“I don’t.”
“Do you not feel like getting your feet rubbed?”
“Yes,” I said. “Wait, no.” I put up my feet. “Whatever answer gets a foot rub.” He started squishing the balls of my feet. I groaned. “Uhhhhh.” The man knew his bones.
Ten minutes and two jelly feet later, I was scanning through diagrams of feathers.
“Crap,” he said, tapping his iPad.
“What?” I asked.
“One of the midwives I back up in Santa Rosa. A risky breech baby delivery.” He started typing. “It would be fine for her to have the baby at home if it wasn’t a breech and if she didn’t have so many health complications.”
“Can’t she go to the clinic?”
“She won’t. Trouble with the law,” he mumbled, typing an email, presumably. “The midwives have been trying to turn the baby, but it’s a no go. I want to help her.” He tapped one last time and sat back. “I feel like she’s family—an outlaw sister. But I was hoping this would be better news.”
“How long until labor?”
“We’ve got three weeks, maybe four. I’m going down there after the Prime. I’ve stashed oxygen and a new monitor with them.”
Thor was so much calmer and way less reckless now that he was making a difference for people. His volunteer work in the clinic meant the world to him.
“Progress on the feather?”
“I’m stumped. It doesn’t match anything online. I mean, it sort of does, but the afterfeather part isn’t quite a pigeon.”
“Looks like we’re taking a trip to the university.”
“Oh, come on. I know you’re keeping me busy so that I don’t worry.”
